17 things to do in Houston

The Razorbacks are headed to Houston for the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29. Click through to see 17 things to do in "Space City."

PHOTO: eflon - CC BY 2.0

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Check out the Space Center. This was mission control for the Gemini and Apollo projects, and now for the Space Shuttle missions. It has a visitors center you can tour.

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Shop at The Galleria. This is the largest mall in Texas, with over 375 stores. You can see the ice rink and skylight in this photo.

PHOTO: Postoak - CC BY-SA 3.0

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See the bats. The Waugh Drive Bat Colony is 15 minutes north of NRG Stadium. They live under the bridge all year, and hunt for food at dusk. There's an observation deck near the bridge to see the bats from.

PHOTO: Houston Parks and Recreation Department

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Visit the museums. The Houston Museum District contains 20 museums and galleries, 11 of which are always free.

PHOTO: Hequals2henry - CC BY-SA 2.0

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Visit the Rothko Chapel. The non-denominational chapel was built in 1971. Inside are 14 painting by American painter Mark Rothko.

PHOTO: Ed Uthman - CC BY 3.0

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Hang out at Bayou Place. The complex has movie theaters, bars and restaurants to relax at.

PHOTO: WhisperToMe - CC0

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See Sam Houston Park. The park tells the story of Houston's history, and includes a cabin dated to 1823.

PHOTO: Brian Reading - CC BY-SA 3.0

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See the San Jacinto Battleground. The monument commemorates the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, when General Sam Houston led Texans to victory over the Mexican Army. The battleground includes the San Jacinto Monument and the USS Texas.

PHOTO: Louis Vest - CC BY 2.0

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Have fun on the Boardwalk. The Kemah Boardwalk includes rides, restaurants, games, shops and a hotel. It's a bit of a drive (about 40 minutes) from NRG Stadium.

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Eat at Bubba Gump. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company's world headquarters is in Houston. It's Houston location is on the boardwalk.

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See the animals. The Houston Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in the country, with more than 6,000 animals.

PHOTO: Karamash - CC BY 3.0

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See the fish. Houston's Downtown Aquarium has more than 200 species of aquatic animals - and sometimes the Navy stops by!

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Skate. The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is one of the largest in Texas. It's about 11 minutes north of NRG Stadium.

PHOTO: Ed Uthman - CC BY 2.0

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Eat at the Mahatma Gandhi District. The area was named for the Indian and Pakistani restaurants and businesses there in 2010.

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Eat at Chinatown. You can find food not just from China, but from countries all across Asia in Houston's new Chinatown.

PHOTO: Hequals2henry - CC BY-SA 3.0

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Relax at Hermann Park. With a jogging trail, gardens, fishing and more, Hermann Park is a great place to spend the day before the game -- it's just a 7 minute drive north from NRG Stadium.

PHOTO: Another Believer - CC BY-SA 3.0

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Take a cruise. Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line ships stop at the Houston Ship Channel.

The Razorbacks are headed to Houston for the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29. Click through to see 17 things to do in "Space City."

PHOTO: eflon - CC BY 2.0

Check out the Space Center. This was mission control for the Gemini and Apollo projects, and now for the Space Shuttle missions. It has a visitors center you can tour.

Shop at The Galleria. This is the largest mall in Texas, with over 375 stores. You can see the ice rink and skylight in this photo.

PHOTO: Postoak - CC BY-SA 3.0

See the bats. The Waugh Drive Bat Colony is 15 minutes north of NRG Stadium. They live under the bridge all year, and hunt for food at dusk. There's an observation deck near the bridge to see the bats from.

PHOTO: Houston Parks and Recreation Department

Visit the museums. The Houston Museum District contains 20 museums and galleries, 11 of which are always free.

PHOTO: Hequals2henry - CC BY-SA 2.0

Visit the Rothko Chapel. The non-denominational chapel was built in 1971. Inside are 14 painting by American painter Mark Rothko.

PHOTO: Ed Uthman - CC BY 3.0

Hang out at Bayou Place. The complex has movie theaters, bars and restaurants to relax at.

PHOTO: WhisperToMe - CC0

See Sam Houston Park. The park tells the story of Houston's history, and includes a cabin dated to 1823.

PHOTO: Brian Reading - CC BY-SA 3.0

See the San Jacinto Battleground. The monument commemorates the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, when General Sam Houston led Texans to victory over the Mexican Army. The battleground includes the San Jacinto Monument and the USS Texas.

PHOTO: Louis Vest - CC BY 2.0

Have fun on the Boardwalk. The Kemah Boardwalk includes rides, restaurants, games, shops and a hotel. It's a bit of a drive (about 40 minutes) from NRG Stadium.

Eat at Bubba Gump. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company's world headquarters is in Houston. It's Houston location is on the boardwalk.

See the animals. The Houston Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in the country, with more than 6,000 animals.

PHOTO: Karamash - CC BY 3.0

See the fish. Houston's Downtown Aquarium has more than 200 species of aquatic animals - and sometimes the Navy stops by!

Skate. The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is one of the largest in Texas. It's about 11 minutes north of NRG Stadium.

PHOTO: Ed Uthman - CC BY 2.0

Eat at the Mahatma Gandhi District. The area was named for the Indian and Pakistani restaurants and businesses there in 2010.

Eat at Chinatown. You can find food not just from China, but from countries all across Asia in Houston's new Chinatown.

PHOTO: Hequals2henry - CC BY-SA 3.0

Relax at Hermann Park. With a jogging trail, gardens, fishing and more, Hermann Park is a great place to spend the day before the game -- it's just a 7 minute drive north from NRG Stadium.

PHOTO: Another Believer - CC BY-SA 3.0

Take a cruise. Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line ships stop at the Houston Ship Channel.

The Razorbacks are headed to Houston for the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29. Click through to see 17 things to do in "Space City."

PHOTO: eflon - CC BY 2.0

Check out the Space Center. This was mission control for the Gemini and Apollo projects, and now for the Space Shuttle missions. It has a visitors center you can tour.

Shop at The Galleria. This is the largest mall in Texas, with over 375 stores. You can see the ice rink and skylight in this photo.

PHOTO: Postoak - CC BY-SA 3.0

See the bats. The Waugh Drive Bat Colony is 15 minutes north of NRG Stadium. They live under the bridge all year, and hunt for food at dusk. There's an observation deck near the bridge to see the bats from.

PHOTO: Houston Parks and Recreation Department

Visit the museums. The Houston Museum District contains 20 museums and galleries, 11 of which are always free.

PHOTO: Hequals2henry - CC BY-SA 2.0

Visit the Rothko Chapel. The non-denominational chapel was built in 1971. Inside are 14 painting by American painter Mark Rothko.

PHOTO: Ed Uthman - CC BY 3.0

Hang out at Bayou Place. The complex has movie theaters, bars and restaurants to relax at.

PHOTO: WhisperToMe - CC0

See Sam Houston Park. The park tells the story of Houston's history, and includes a cabin dated to 1823.

PHOTO: Brian Reading - CC BY-SA 3.0

See the San Jacinto Battleground. The monument commemorates the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, when General Sam Houston led Texans to victory over the Mexican Army. The battleground includes the San Jacinto Monument and the USS Texas.

PHOTO: Louis Vest - CC BY 2.0

Have fun on the Boardwalk. The Kemah Boardwalk includes rides, restaurants, games, shops and a hotel. It's a bit of a drive (about 40 minutes) from NRG Stadium.

Eat at Bubba Gump. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company's world headquarters is in Houston. It's Houston location is on the boardwalk.

See the animals. The Houston Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in the country, with more than 6,000 animals.

PHOTO: Karamash - CC BY 3.0

See the fish. Houston's Downtown Aquarium has more than 200 species of aquatic animals - and sometimes the Navy stops by!

Skate. The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is one of the largest in Texas. It's about 11 minutes north of NRG Stadium.

PHOTO: Ed Uthman - CC BY 2.0

Eat at the Mahatma Gandhi District. The area was named for the Indian and Pakistani restaurants and businesses there in 2010.

Eat at Chinatown. You can find food not just from China, but from countries all across Asia in Houston's new Chinatown.

PHOTO: Hequals2henry - CC BY-SA 3.0

Relax at Hermann Park. With a jogging trail, gardens, fishing and more, Hermann Park is a great place to spend the day before the game -- it's just a 7 minute drive north from NRG Stadium.

PHOTO: Another Believer - CC BY-SA 3.0

Take a cruise. Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line ships stop at the Houston Ship Channel.